The Ile Camera
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Riverview explores water plant options
By Jim Kasuba, Heritage Newspapers
PUBLISHED: July 18, 2008
For years, Riverview has explored the possibility of purchasing its water from Wyandotte.
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There was never a rush to switch water providers, in large part because the city has a long-term contract with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. However, that contract is nearing an end.
Recently, Riverview and two of its neighbors — Grosse Ile Township and Trenton — decided to share the cost of a feasibility study to explore building a jointly run water treatment plant.
However, if that plan proves to be too expensive or not feasible for other reasons, another plan for Riverview is serious consideration of buying its water from Wyandotte Municipal Services, which provides water for its residents and businesses.
"Before we enter into another 30-year, open-ended contract, I want to make sure we explore our options," Mayor Tim Durand said. "The city (of Detroit) is looking at expanding north and west, which does not benefit us, but they will spread their costs to us."
Last month, Souheil Sabak, an engineer with Charles E. Raines Co., reported to City Council on the findings of an engineering study performed by Black & Veatch Corp. on the feasibility and cost associated with purchasing water from Wyandotte. The results were not encouraging.
"As city engineers for the city of Riverview, we had discussions with the city of Wyandotte staff and staff from Black & Veatch regarding the feasibility study," Sabak said.
"The discussions focused primarily on Wyandotte's plant capacity, distribution system, water system current and future demands, water pressure, etc."
Sabak said other issues included Riverview's current and future water demands, current supply, distribution system hydraulic model, desired pressure and storage reservoirs.
The Black & Veatch study was released in January. City engineers and staff reviewed and assessed the three scenarios that were presented in the study:
•A direct feed from Wyandotte's water distribution system to the Riverview city limits.
•A direct feed from Wyandotte's water treatment plant high-service pumps to the Riverview city limits.
•A direct feed from Wyandotte's water distribution system to a remote booster pumping station and ground storage reservoir at the Wyandotte-Riverview city limits.
The findings in the report are detailed and lengthy, but each scenario showed adequate average daily supply of water, based on system improvements.
"One major concern was the identified less-than-acceptable pressure in certain areas of the city during maximum hour demand and fire demand," Sabak said.
"Another concern was the reversal of flow in the distribution system, causing water discoloration and requiring extensive system flushing to clear."
Sabak said other concerns with scenario three were property acquisition, backup power, security and additional staff for its operation and maintenance.
Sabak declined to provide an estimated dollar amount, saying it would depend in part on which scenario was chosen, although all three scenarios did not vary widely in cost. However, certain improvements were associated with each scenario, and each of those improvements resulted in rate increases.
Sabak said an analysis by the city's Finance Department showed that current Detroit Water and Sewerage Department rates are less than Wyandotte rates would be, taking into account improvements to put a new system in place.
"If you are looking for a change in service, it has to be an improvement over what you have now," Sabak said.
City Manager Dean Workman said infrastructure costs would be considerable under any of the three scenarios, but the city is looking at all options before its contract with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department expires in June 2013.
"One of the comments we hear from residents is, 'We are right on the water. Why buy it from Detroit?'" Workman said.
Durand said elected officials have heard the engineer's less-than-glowing evaluation of the report's findings and will take it into account, but the door has not been completely shut on the possibility of purchasing water from Wyandotte, though it appears unlikely.
Workman said he will talk to the City Council soon about continuing to explore buying water from Wyandotte or moving in a different direction, such as jointly operating a water treatment plant with neighboring communities.
That appears to be the way city officials are leaning, with Durand and Workman saying that the feeling is that Riverview would rather be a partner than a customer.
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